Automotive brake device



@(Zifi. 29, a ,3 DOWN AUTOMOTIVE BRAKE DEVICE Filed Aug. 19, 1926 :NvENToR SI DN E V 6. DOWN Patented a. 29, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIDNEY G. DOWN, 0F EDGEWOOD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY, OF WILMERDING, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA AUTOMOTIVE BRAKE DEVICE Application filed Augustin, 1926. Serial No. 130,218.

This invention relates to vehicle brakes,

and more particularly to means for taking up slack due to the wear of the brake shoes.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an improved slack adjuster of the above type. v

In the accompanying drawing; Fi 1 is a sectional view of one-half of a vehic e brake construction, showing my improved slackadjuster applied thereto; and Fig. 2 a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1, one-half of a vehicle brake construction is shown, comprising a brake drum 1 having an internal friction face and having mounted therein pivotally connected brake heads 2, each brake head having a brake shoe 3 adapted to frictionally engage A the internal friction face of the drum 1.

Also mounted in the brake drum is a. cylinder 4 containing pistons (not shown) for opcrating piston stems 5. The outer end of each piston stem 5 is rounded and engages in a corresponding socket formed in one end of a lever 6, the other end of the lever being pivotally connectedto a bracket 7.

The spaced ribs 8 of the brake head 2 are provided with bosses 9 at opposite sides and said bosses are apertured to receive a shaft 10, the bores being open at one side to permit the shaft to be installed in place.

Centrally, the shaft 10 is provided with an eccentric portion 11 and the ends of the shaft are bored to receive cap screws 12.

The shaft 10 is so positioned, that the eccentric portion 11 engages the lever 6 at a point intermediate its ends, and when the shoes 3 are newly installed, the eccentric portion is positioned with its eccentricit turned away from the lever 6, as shown in t e drawing. A clamping member 13 is applied to each screw and the screws are inserted through the openings in the shaft 10 and are screwed down, so that the clamping member 13 grips the shaft.

When the brake shoes have been worn down to a considerable degree, the slack is taken up byremoving the screws 12 and then rotating theshaft 10 one-half a turn, so that the eccentricity of the portion 11 is brou ht into engagement with the lever 6. he

screws 12 are then replaced and screwed down and the brakes may then be used with the slack taken up until the shoes are completely usedvup.

Having now described my invention, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a brake drum and a brake head mounted therein, of a cylinder mounted in said drum, a piston rod extending out of said cylinder, a pivoted lever hav- 1 ing one end in enga ement with said piston rod, and an adjusta 1e cam carried by said brake head and engaging said leverat a oint intermediate the pivot connection and the piston rod.

2. The combination with a brake drum and a brake head mounted therein, of a cylinder mounted in said drum, a piston rod extending out of said cylinder, a pivoted lever havin one end in engagement with said piston ro a rotatable member carried by said brake head and having an eccentric ortion e aging saidlever, a clampin olt exteiiding through an opening in sai member in one position of said member and also adapted to extend through said opening whensaid member is rotated 180 degrees from said position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 

